Geology topics
Research about Pennsylvania
Source-linked reports with geographic coverage including Pennsylvania.
Geology and mineral resources of the Lehighton and Palmerton quadrangles, Carbon and Northampton Counties, Pennsylvania
The Lehighton and Palmerton 73 1/2-minute quadrangles cover an area of about 112 square miles of diversified terrain in the folded Appalachian Mountain and Great Valley sections of the Valley and Ridge physiographic province in Carbon, Lehigh, and Northampton Counties, Pennsylvania. The Lehigh River and Blue Mountain are the prominent features of the topography. Rock units defined and mapped in the area are the lithified sediments that were deposited in a variety of offshore marine, marine shelf, marginal marine, and fluvial environments associated with two phases of basin filling. The rocks are separated into four lithotectonic units, each deformed semi-independently of adjacent lithotectonic units. Decollements presumably separate the lithotectonic units. Lithotectonic unit 1 consists of about 12,000 feet of slate and graywacke of the Middle and Upper Ordovician Martinsburg Formation. This unit contains mainly asymmetric, similar, and nearly isoclinal folds, with wave lengths of 1,000 to 3,000 feet and amplitudes of 400 to 2,000 feet, formed mainly by passive flow and slip. Lithotectonic unit 2 includes about 3,100 feet of sandstone, siltstone, shale, and conglomerate of the Shawangunk Formation (Ordovician(?) and Silurian), Bloomsburg Red Beds (Silurian), and the lower part of the Poxono Island Formation (Silurian). This unit contains mainly asymmetric and concentric folds, with wavelengths of about one mile and amplitudes of 1,500 to 5,000 feet, formed by flexural slip with minor passive slip and flow. Lithotectonic unit 3 contains about 750 feet of limestone, shale, siltstone, sandstone, and dolomite of the upper part of the Poxono Island Formation, Bossardville Limestone, and Decker Formation (all Silurian), the Coeymans and New Scotland Formations, Shriver Chert, and Ridgeley Formation of the Oriskany Group and the Schoharie-Esopus Formation (all Lower Devonian), and the Palmerton Formation and Buttermilk Falls Limestone (both Middle Devonian). This unit has asymmetric, concentric, similar, and flap folds, with wavelengths of 1,000 to 1,500 feet and amplitudes of about 1,550 feet, formed by flexural slip and flow and passive slip and flow. Lithotectonic unit 4 consists of more than 13,000 feet of sandstone, conglomerate, siltstone, and shale of the Middle Devonian Marcellus and Mahantango Formations, the Upper Devonian Trimmers Rock and Catskill Formations, the Devonian-Mississippian Spechty Kopf Forma tion, the Mississippian Pocono and Mauch Chunk Formations, and the Pennsylvanian Pottsville Formation. This unit contains nearly symmetric, concentric flexural-slip folds with wavelengths of more than five miles and amplitudes of about one mile. Surficial deposits occur throughout the mapped area and include: Pleistocene pre-lllinoian(?) till and outwash(?), lllinoian(?) till and outwash, Wisconsinan outwash, shale-chip rubble, boulder fields, and colluvium; and Holocene alluvium, landslide deposits, and man-made dumps. The rocks of the mapped area, except for the deeply weathered lime stones, generally have good slope stability and foundation support strength, moderate to low primary infiltration capacity and aquifer potential but moderate to high secondary values for these properties, moderate resistance to weathering, and are moderately difficult to difficult to excavate. All of these properties are strongly influenced by the abundant bedding, cleavage, and joint partings of the rocks. Similar evaluations for the surficial deposits indicate less desirable values except for the ease of excavation of most of the unconsolidated materials. Currently active and potential mineral resources are numerous in the Lehighton and Palmerton quadrangles and include slate, sand, paint ore, building stone, crushed rock, lightweight aggregate, clinker residue, clay, hydraulic cement, and roofing granules.
Flood of September 1971 in southeastern Pennsylvania
Record-breaking floods on Sept. 13, 1971, occurred in some urbanized basins of southeastern Pennsylvania. This flooding resulted from heavy, intermittent thunderstorms on Sept. 11-13, 1971, which produced 8 to 12 inches of rainfall in the basins of Skippack, Stony, and Chester Creeks. Rain was heaviest during mid-day of the 13th. Damage to homes, businesses, and public property amounted to many millions of dollars. Twelve persons lost their lives and more than 400 families were driven from their homes. The Chester and Norristown areas were declared Flood Disaster Areas by the Federal and State Governments. Peak stages and discharges are given for 25 gaging staions and 4 miscellaneous sites. Flood profiles are shown for Chester Creek, West Branch Chester Creek, and Stony Creek.
Water resources data for Pennsylvania, water year 1972; Part 1, Surface water records
No abstract available.
Water resources data for Pennsylvania; water year 1972; Part 2, Water quality records
No abstract available.
Graptolites from the Martinsburg Formation, Lehigh Gap, Eastern Pennsylvania
Graptolites collected from the uppermost part of the Martinsburg Formation (Pen Argyl Member) at and near the contact with the overlying Shawangunk Formation at Lehigh Gap, Pa., indicate that the uppermost Martinsburg is as young as Edenian to early Maysvillian (upper subzone [Climacograptus spiniferus subzone] of zone 13 | Orthograptus truncatus intermedius zone]). The Martinsburg gradationally overlies the Jacksonburg Limestone of late Middle Ordovician age, suggesting a lower age limit for the Martinsburg.
Physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of Conewago Lake drainage basin, York County, Pennsylvania
No abstract available.
An inventory of suspended sediment stations and type of data analysis for Pennsylvania streams, 1947-1970
Data concerning suspended sediment concentrations and loads, frequency of occurrence of suspended sediment concentrations, and long-term trends of annual suspended sediment loads are important tools for today's environmental manager. These data are required background for those concerned with establishing and enforcing erosion and sedimentation control regulations and sediment concentration or turbidity standards for water-quality criteria, or those concerned with designing for adequate long-term water storage in reservoirs (sediment load), for efficient municipal and industrial plant operation (sediment concentration frequency), etc. This is a compilation of the location, period of record, sampling frequency and type of data synthesis for suspended sediment carried by Pennsylvania streams. Figures 1 and 2 show the approximate locations of sediment sampling stations in Pennsylvania. All of the sediment data listed were collected by the U. S. Geological Survey mainly in cooperation with the following Federal, State, and local agencies. Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources Bureau of Engineering and Construction Soil and Water Conservation Commission Pennsylvania Department of Transportation City of Philadelphia Brandywine Valley Association Delaware Geological Survey Conestoga Valley Association Lehigh County Soil and Water Conservation District Corps of Engineers, U. S. Army
Map showing flood of June 1972 resulting from tropical storm Agnes, Susquehanna River at Kingston, Pennsylvania
In June 1972, tropical storm Agnes caused severe flooding within a broad area extending from North Carolina to Southern New York. Flood elevations along the Susquehanna River were the highest ever recorded. In the Wilkes-Barre area, flood elevations exceeded those of 1865 and 1936 by about eight feet. Maximum discharges were about 40 percent greater than those of a 50-year flood. Property damages from flooding in the Wyoming Valley, in which Wilkes-Barre lies, far exceeded those in any are of similar size affected by the storm. The extent of the flooding on the map was delineated by the U.S. Geological Survey from field surveys made soon after the flood. Sections of levees and railroad grades that were not overtopped are not delineated.
Map showing flood of June 1972 resulting from tropical storm Agnes, Susquehanna River at Wilkes-Barre and Plymouth, Pennsylvania
In June 1972, tropical storm Agnes caused severe flooding within a broad area extending from North Carolina to Southern New York. Flood elevations along the Susquehanna River were the highest ever recorded. In the Wilkes-Barre area, flood elevations exceeded those of 1865 and 1936 by about eight feet. Maximum discharges were about 40 percent greater than those of a 50-year flood. Property damages from flooding in the Wyoming Valley, in which Wilkes-Barre lies, far exceeded those in any are of similar size affected by the storm. The extent of the flooding on the map was delineated by the U.S. Geological Survey from field surveys made soon after the flood. Sections of levees and railroad grades that were not overtopped are not delineated.
Map showing flood of June 1972 resulting from tropical storm Agnes, Susquehanna River in the vicinity of Wilkes-Barre and Pittston, Pennsylvania
In June 1972, tropical storm Agnes caused severe flooding within a broad area extending from North Carolina to Southern New York. Flood elevations along the Susquehanna River were the highest ever recorded. In the Wilkes-Barre area, flood elevations exceeded those of 1865 and 1936 by about eight feet. Maximum discharges were about 40 percent greater than those of a 50-year flood. Property damages from flooding in the Wyoming Valley, in which Wilkes-Barre lies, far exceeded those in any are of similar size affected by the storm. The extent of the flooding on the map was delineated by the U.S. Geological Survey from field surveys made soon after the flood. Sections of levees and railroad grades that were not overtopped are not delineated.
Map showing flood of June 1972 resulting from tropical storm Agnes, Susquehanna River and Swatara Creek at Middletown, Pennsylvania
In June 1972, tropical storm Agnes caused severe flooding in Pennsylvania and southern New York. The floods on many major streams were the highest known since the river valleys were settled. Maximum discharges were as much as twice the discharge of a 50-year flood. In central Pennsylvania, large areas in Lock Haven, Mill Hall, Wilkes-Barre, Kingston, Pittston, Harrisburg, and in many smaller communities were inundated to depths of several feet. The extent of flooding shown on the map was delineated by the U.S. Geological Survey from field surveys made soon after the flood.
Map showing flood of June 1972 resulting from tropical storm Agnes, Susquehanna River and Yellow Breeches Creek at Steelton, Highspire, and New Cumberland, Pennsylvania
In June 1972, tropical storm Agnes caused severe flooding in Pennsylvania and southern New York. The floods on many major streams were the highest known since the river valleys were settled. Maximum discharges were as much as twice the discharge of a 50-year flood. In central Pennsylvania, large areas in Lock Haven, Mill Hall, Wilkes-Barre, Kingston, Pittston, Harrisburg, and in many smaller communities were inundated to depths of several feet. The extent of flooding shown on the map was delineated by the U.S. Geological Survey from field surveys made soon after the flood.
Map showing flood of June 1972 resulting from tropical storm Agnes, Susquehanna River at Lemoyne, Pennsylvania
In June 1972, tropical storm Agnes caused severe flooding in Pennsylvania and southern New York. The floods on many major streams were the highest known since the river valleys were settled. Maximum discharges were as much as twice the discharge of a 50-year flood. In central Pennsylvania, large areas in Lock Haven, Mill Hall, Wilkes-Barre, Kingston, Pittston, Harrisburg, and in many smaller communities were inundated to depths of several feet. The extent of flooding shown on the map was delineated by the U.S. Geological Survey from field surveys made soon after the flood.
Flood of June 1972 Susquehanna River, Paxton Creek, and Conodoguinet Creek at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
In June 1972, tropical storm Agnes cause severe flooding in Pennsylvania and southern New York. The floods on many major strams were the highest known since the river valleys were settled. Maximum discharges were as much as twice the discharge of a 50-year flood. In central pennsylvania, large areas in Lock Have, Mill Hall, Wilkes-Barre, Kingston, Pittston, harrisburg, and in many smaller communities were inundated to depths of several feet. The extent of the flooding shown on the map was delineated by the U.S. Geological Survey from field surveys made soon after the flood. The investigation was conducted in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources, the Susquehanna River Basin Commission, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Map showing flood of June 1972 resulting from tropical storm Agnes, Bald Eagle and Fishing Creeks at Mill Hall, Pennsylvania
In June 1972, tropical storm Agnes caused severe flooding in Pennsylvania and southern New York. The floods on many major streams were the highest known since the river valleys were settled. Maximum discharges were as much as twice the discharge of a 50-year flood. In central Pennsylvania, large areas in Lock Haven, Mill Hall, Wilkes-Barre, Kingston, Pittston, Harrisburg, and in many smaller communities were inundated to depths of several feet. The extent of flooding shown on the map was delineated by the U.S. Geological Survey from field surveys made soon after the flood.